"Fear does not exist anywhere except in the mind."~ Dale Carnegie
Days Ahead
#secondcoming
Upon the upright rises light in the darkness—
gracious, compassionate, and righteous...
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings
His heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
~ Psalms 112:4,7 (author)
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
~ James 4:12-14 (NKJV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
~ Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)
Our pastor is preaching from Revelation, linking recent events to prophecies going back 2500 years with spine-chilling accuracy.
Countless prayer requests come to me for those without a job in an economy which continues to falter—and for loved ones struggling with illnesses which have ominous implications.
I often speak with people for whom I care, who face decisions with long-range impact.
At every turn are situations shadowed by uncertainty and anxiety for the future. If we only knew what awaits us in days ahead, we might better know how act today. But our Maker reserves to Himself knowledge of what tomorrow holds.
It’s one thing to say we must trust the Lord for the days ahead. It’s quite another to rest in that trust. The psalmist says of the upright (Hebrew yâshâr, meaning "straight" or "erect") that his heart is fixed. He stands tall, without fear, in the face of the storm. Rather than veer away from being gracious, compassionate, and righteous, the upright resolutely stays the course.
We have surely entered the days when darkness will not recede before the Son appears on the horizon. The one who fears God need not fear darkness or whatever may lie there, because the risen Lord is our Light. Amid darkness, sufficient is the Light for the next step.
Heavenly Father, Your Word is living and powerful and reliable. You are all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. You bid us fear not, be not anxious, have no worry for the morrow. Please make us unmovable and unwavering in faith amid the perils which threaten. Ever open our eyes to Who You are.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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Thank you Anne. I needed this.
ReplyDeleteI may not know what tomorrow holds, but praise God, I know Who is holding my tomorrow. I love you sis.
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of our storm we must believe that He is still on the throne and that He is bigger than all our problems and pain. I like Denise's comment.
ReplyDeleteThat makes about about four different pastors I know, all from different denominations, preaching on Revelation. All say, "soon" in their own way.
ReplyDeleteI stand unafraid, yet what's the word--awed? Humbled? That's not it, either. My spirit shakes to think of the Day of the Lord. Knowing the time is near compels me to speak and act with more intention.
God bless you today, dear Anne.
So encouraging! "the upright resolutely stay the course" With God's help, this is our hope.
ReplyDelete"It's quite another to rest in that trust." Rest in trust. A phrase I'll be thinking of all day.
ReplyDeleteI pray you are showered with God's love today.
~ Wendy
I love what Denise said. She sums up this post quite well. Praise the Lord that we need not fear our tomorrows.:)
ReplyDeleteT. Anne, never forget that I need you too. :D
ReplyDeleteDenise, I thought about using that quote for this. I'm delighted to have it appear here anyway.
Gwen, I believe the Spirit is moving in the Body to get us all focused on what's truly important. "Find the Lord before you need Him" is about more than salvation. To stand firm in the gale, we need to first practice standing firm in the breeze.
Bradley, you rightly say "with God's help." He is the ONLY hope! Alone, we are certain to fall.
Wendy, with each truth discovered, we learn, accept, rest, practice—then discover another truth.
Ralene, yes! In all things, the final response is to be praise. :D
Natasa, I love the way Psalm 46 sums up what you say:
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling...
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
(Psalms 46:2-4,7,10)
So true. Saying you trust God will lead to the testing so that you can rest in that trust. Sounds easy on paper, but living it is a wild ride! :) Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteI have just read this...
ReplyDeleteThe days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not whiter; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty - Psalm 37:18-19 (NIV)
God holds us in His mighty Hand and no one can ever shake it loose!
jasonS, I love roller coasters. Even in life, the valleys accentuate the peaks.
ReplyDeleteBible Lover, thank you for a wonderful addition with that passage.